Anyone who has seen a photograph of a lush, verdant setup with a school of jewel-like tetras knows the beauty of a freshwater planted aquarium. But many hobbyists avoid adding live plants, believing they are too fragile or too difficult to keep. On the contrary, most live plants are hardy and require very little maintenance if the proper precautions are taken.

By avoiding some of the most common mistakes through careful planning and a little forethought, you'll be pleased with your success. The most common reasons for the loss of aquatic plants are due to:

The addition of plants that require differing water parameters (incompatible species)

The addition of plants ill suited to the existing lighting conditions

Water parametersJust like fish, live plants do best when they are kept in an aquarium that best suits their needs. Selecting live plants that share common water parameters will minimize problems and will make it easier for you to maintain ideal water conditions. The three main aspects to consider are pH, water hardness, and water temperature.

pH -

Most live plants are tolerant of a pH range between 6.5 and 7.5. However, some sensitive plants have a narrower pH tolerance so it is important to research the specific pH requirements of each plant.

Water hardness -

Usually expressed in degree of hardness. Though tropical aquatic plants tend to prefer softer water, most plants are able to adapt to harder water conditions (general hardness). Once again, research the specific range your desired plants are able to tolerate.

Though most aquatic plants do well within the temperature range of 70 to 80 degrees, there are several aquatic plants, such as
Anacharis and
Japanese Dwarf Rush, that prefer cooler water temperatures. Find out the particular temperature requirements of each plant first.

Most aquariums do not have adequate lighting to properly sustain many aquatic plant species. Plants that require high lighting conditions are frequently placed in aquariums with insufficient lighting and do not survive or demonstrate anemic growth. Provide the
right lighting conditions or select plants that are suited to your current lighting conditions. A planted aquarium should receive at least 10 to 12 hours of light per day.

Determine the feeding habits of your plants to select the appropriate type of fertilizer:
tablets for root-feeders and/or
liquid for plants that feed through their leaves.

Placement -

Each plant will grow to different heights and can be categorized as
foreground, mid-ground, or background plants. Place the plants in the appropriate location in groupings of odd numbers for a more natural, nonsymmetrical appearance.

Fish -

Carefully select plant-friendly fish for your aquarium. Herbivorous fish such as Silver Dollars are not suitable for planted aquariums since they are avid grazers, and many cichlids are notorious for digging in the substrate and up-rooting plants. Fish to consider include:
Tetras,
Gouramis,
Rainbowfish,
Livebearers, and
Rasboras.

By choosing appropriate plants that best match the lighting and water parameters of your existing aquarium, creating a beautiful planted aquarium is not as difficult as you might think.

There are many ornamental terrestrial or marginal tropical plants sold as aquatic plants. These plants may look good and can do fine completely submerged for awhile, but these plants will eventually drown and should not be used. It is very important to select true aquatic species to prevent unnecessary disappointment and loss. Non-aquatic plants you may find in pet stores, but should avoid, include: Aglaonema, Cherry Hedge, Draceana (Princess Pine), Green Hedge, Mondo Grass, and "palms."